Condenser



Nov. 10, 1931. J. KIRGAN 1,831,454-

CONDENSER Filed Aug. 15,1930

HID ATTORNEY- Patented Nov. 10, 1931 UNITED s'tm as.

PATENT mm 1 \(IF M81031, BENMYLVANM, AflfiIGN (B 1B0 :INGERQQLL-MNZD *CQMPAN Y,

Di JERSEY DITK, NEW JERSEY, A GQBEQRATIQN OF J connnnsna 7 Application filed au ust 15, i930. Serial No.475,572.

' l h'is invention relates to condensers, but

more "'parl-fiictilarly to a flexible joint tier-cond'ensersofthesm liace type.

Que db"edt--ofthe 'mvent'in "is to assure the maintenance oi fluid tight joints between'the tribes and the tube sheets wherelby they --are supported ikzndther object is to permit of liree con- 'tractile and expansive :IHGVBIIIBI-it df fb'oth the v accordance with the practice of the invention, and

prlsing a casing B which is provided with the usual inlet opening C for steam and an outlet opening D through which the products 7 of condensation may pass from the casing B.

For simplicity of illustration the condenser A is shown as bein of the single pass type in which the tubes ill are arranged in this instance in groups designated as F and G. The

. tubes E are arranged longitudinally of the casing B and extend with their opposite ends into tube sheets H and J to which they may be secured in fluid tight relationshlp 1n any well known manner, as for, example, by ex- Vm. panding the ends of the tubes in the tube sheets.

The tube sheet H is preferably seated against the end of the casing B and in turn acts as a seating surface for an inlet water 4 box K which may be secured to the casing in any suitable and convenient manner.

The water box K has an inlet opening L through which cooling water may enter the water box K for supplying the tubes E.

Secured in suitable manner, as for instance to the casing 13, is an outlet water box 0 into which the cooling water is discharged from; the tubes E and said water-boxO has a discharge opening P through which the cooling water may pass from =thefcondenser A.

As is well known,-

apparatus of the character to which the present invention rela tes, theseveral component parts or-groups of parts are exposed to med i'u ms of difierent degre es o ften iperatu re, so that 'in condensers where the tube sheets are affixed "to theycasing of the condenser andthe tubes aresecured to thet-ube sheets any expansive- 'or con'tractilerinoiueinent o'f-oneelenientoi'groups f elem'ents will bedirectlytransniitted.to theassociated lo r contacting elements. This isobjieotionalble, and especially so in condensers wherein the tubes are secured to "the tube sheets bytthe unethod-o'f exp an-sion of the ends of the Itubes, since tends to "loosen the seal between the tubes and the tube plates and frequently :causes tube breakage, particularly such cases Where theitubes' have "been prem ously weakened oorrosion;

illlrepresent invention contemplates the provision {of :meansgadapted to prevent the expesuive :of the tubes Ytothe contractile and enpansiweim onemento f the-casing B. -Elofthis end the tube sheet J is formed of smaller crosssseut'i'onal area Ethan Sthecasing B wherein it is disposed-sozthat' throug houtthe en'- tine operation (of the condenser A, irrespectime rzof :tlie irelative change of :positions :o'f the tube :sheet J a and the casing 'B,-tth'ere will at all times exist :a space or :spa'ces rbetween these elements.

tube sheet J :is accordingly provided with a beam Q-whichtmay besrboltedto'the'itube sheet or "otherwise suitably secured thereto, and :the :said rbeam Q, Which ipreferablwy extendsatransversely zof lthe casing finndlisilos cated between the groups of tubes F andiG is seated withzits sends -upon cbearilrg amemhers Rllocatedavithin'theacasingfBgan'dionzthezside wallsathereof. 7 V a a v lends (off the beam Qare a'seated loosely on the :he anings 1R so that whenever :the tubes E fiXgPftIlCl or rcontract t.he':said bean1- Q may slide :freely on :thea bearings R whereby :it, 1 the tube I sheet and elements connected thereto will, he supported In order to prevent communication between the interiors of the water box 0 and the casing B a flexible connection or band S, which may consist of rubber or other suitable impervious material, is disposed between the water box 0 and the tube sheet J so that, in effect, it forms a portion of the water box 0." Preferably the band S is of U-shape cross sectional area of which the straight legs T and U" are in this instance introverted to lie against the adjacent surfaces of the tube sheet J and the water box 0 respectively. Disposed upon the inner surfaces of the legs T and U are clamping rings which are firmly clamped in position by bolts X to compress the legs T and U for forming fluid tight joints between the band S and the associated elements.

As will be readily apparent from the foregoing description, any relative movement between the casing B and the tubes E, such as may result from unequal expansion of these elements, may freely take place without imposing one element to strains resulting from movement of another element.

I claim:

1. A surface condenser, comprising a casing, a water box for the casing, cooling tubes in the casing, a tube sheet having the tubes secured thereto,supporting means on the tube sheet cooperating with the casing for holding the tube sheet suspended in the casing, and flexible means spaced from the casing and as sociated with the tube sheet and the water box to form a joint therebetween.

2. A surface condenser, comprising a casing, a water box, cooling tubes in the casing, a tube sheet having the tubes secured thereto, bearing means carried by the casing, supporting means on the tube sheet for holding the tube sheet suspended in the casing and being slidably supported by the bearing means, and flexible means spaced from the casing and associated with the tube sheet and the water box to form a joint therebetween.

3. A surface condenser, comprisinga casing, a water box at the end of the casing, cooling tubes in the casing, a tube sheet having the tubes secured thereto, bearing means carried by the casing, supporting means on the tube sheet and being slidable on the bearing means relatively to the casing to permit of free contractile and expansive movement of the tubes,

and flexible means connected to the tube sheet sheet in the casing having the tubes secured thereto and being of smaller area than the casing to avoid contact between the tube sheet and the casing, integral hearing means on the casing, supporting means on the tube sheet slidable on the bearing means in the casing to tube sheet and loosely seated on the bearings I to hold the tube sheet suspended in the casing, and a flexible joint between the tube sheet and the water head to seal the interior of the casing from the water head.

6. A surface condenser, comprising a casing, Water box fixedly secured to the end of the casing, cooling tubes in the casing, a tube sheet in the casing spaced from the water box and having the tubes secured thereto, bearing means carried by the casing, supporting means on the tube sheet slidable on the bear-- ing means to permit movement of thetube sheet relatively to the casing, flexible means spaced from the casing and connected to the tube sheet and the water boxto enclose said space and seal the interior of the casing from the water box.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

JOHN xmeA 

